Mr. Bumpy's Karaoke Cafe

I understand that talking about the weather constantly is considered dull, or banal, or self-indulgent because one just must talk (or twit, or blog, or update) in order to hear oneself t/t/b/u.  But if you think about it weather is such a strong influence on us;  our activities, waking/rising schedules, travel plans, and moods are heavily influenced by weather.  It is one of those things that must often be considered.

And so, let me say without any sense of shame or banality, that It Is Snowing On The Second Day Of Spring.  ARGH. I sit here at my desk-away-from-work, with my Verilux light therapy box mere inches away, my wool sweater snug around me wondering when I'll ever get to feel natural warmth again. It's particularly galling this time because the rest of the country (all of the US except for the Pacific Northwest) appears to be having a streak of bright, sunny warm days.  I can hardly bear to look at Facebook because of all the joyous, sandal-wearing, sunlight-induced status updates.  Sigh.

Hooray, hurrah!  Although it's very hard to tell, since there is still snow in the forecast for tomorrow, and very cold temperatures.  And I haven't seen a single trillium yet. I've been looking.

So I shall head home after work, pour myself some hot chocolate or, perhaps, a hot toddy, and tug on my wool slippers.  And wish for sunnier days.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

SB's response. My turn now.

Yesterday a co-worker walked by my desk singing:

  I like life 
  Life likes me....

So now I have this stuck in my head.  If you don't recognize it, it's from Albert Finney's 1970 musical "Scrooge", sung by Finney and a very robust Kenneth More.  This version of the traditional tale is Angel's favorite. We own it and watch it every year.

On a friend's recommendation, I just picked up Cherie Priest's Boneshaker.  The blurb sounds interesting.  Also, another friend pointed me towards Charles Stross' short story Overtime last night - which had me laughing my ass off all the way through.  (Currently free on ibooks.)  I'm not sure why I haven't read Stross yet, I've had both The Atrocity Archives and The Jennifer Morgue on my to-read list for a while, but never seem to get around to them.  I might make more of an effort now.



Edit (next day):  Boneshaker was a fun (and quick) read.  I probably enjoyed it more because I'm from Seattle and could picture the scene clearly, distortion of the historical timeline notwithstanding.  I'll definitely read the next two in the series.

"Thus the man who reads history imagines that the past was nothing but a succession of battles, since the infinitely greater periods of peace and order call for no particular comment."  Rafael Sabatini, Scaramouche: The Kingmaker

This reminds me of my favorite history teacher, and many other platitudes about history, namely:  History is written by the winners. 

Edit to add:  BTW, this was a perfect choice for reading right now.  Stories of the French Revolution fascinate me.  I have no idea why - I have no French roots that I know of.

So far, Viriconium is rather tepid.  I'll try one more of the stories, but I doubt I'll finish it at this point.  I'm still not in the mood for Interface though.  Maybe it's time to give fantasy/specfic a break and pick up some classic fiction or nonfiction.

There's a feeling of loss when I finish a very engaging book.  I have lived in this world, learned to know and love or hate or dismiss it's residents.  I have become accustomed to the rhythms of the city or town or sea, to the quirks of lifestyle, to the beauty and the scars.  It's not always that I don't want the book to end - quite often I'm relieved that it's over.  Sometimes I do wish it would continue.  But whether I want more of it or not, there's a brief pause after setting it down - a small period of time, perhaps minutes or hours or days, when I can't even think of picking up another book.  Not yet.   This one hasn't ended yet, for me, not completely.  It still thrums within me.

I think I shall spend some time trailblazing today.  Our property, and the few footpaths through it, are monstrously overgrown - and it's not too hot, so it's a good time to work.

Then, reading.  Currently on China Mieville's The Scar, and Stephenson/Frederick's "Interface" just came available at the library.

Hello!

Some of you may come here after I have friended you / joined your community, and find nothing to indicate why I might do so, and be passingly confused.  I don't blame you.  I'm redirecting my online reading/learning/inquiring channels, and friending journals that I find interesting.  Please don't feel any obligation to return the gesture if you're not comfortable.  I'm much more focused on reading than writing now, and won't be posting much for a while.  That will probably change eventually, but I'm letting things take their time.

AM